Dear Backers!
I’ve just come back from Peru and wanted to update you all as to how everything is going. We’ve come back with around 30 hours of footage to sift through, which I’ve been working on in the last week. Some great news is that Mosaic Films submitted the project to the Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket and we were chosen along with 65 other films from over 450 entries! DocFest is soon in early June so there is a lot to be done to get things ready to show to possible interested parties.
Our time was split mainly in and around Huancabamba, in Piura city and in Cajamarca, Piura’s neighbouring department. In Huancabamba our focus was mainly on three characters who we spent time with developing different strands of the story; the abuses suffered over the years and also the way of life that is under threat. We made many small journeys with the characters through their landscape, capturing the immense natural wealth that is key to their survival. We also met 17 claimants from Pacaipampa and Yanta who were part of the 2005 protest and who suffered abuse at the hands of the security guards and Peruvian police. The overwhelming impression was that these men are simply farmers worried for their futures, not terrorists or violent as asserted by the Government and company.
One of the most valuable days of filming was the trek we made to actually get to the Rio Blanco mine site, the site of the 2005 tortures and also the underlying reason for the entire conflict. A 2am start driving 3 hours from Huancabamba, and then a 7 hour trek later we arrived at the perfect viewing point from across a valley to see the mine site. Seeing the mine for the first time, and the scenery it is set in, was really very powerful indeed. The area is a cloud forest, teeming with life and water. It really hit home the reasons for why these communities are against the project – the thought of a large open pit mine in the area and the environmental repercussions it would have was immediate and scary.
As for the future of the mine itself, this is very much in the balance. Much depends on who wins the Presidential election, the final round of which is on 5th June. The elections have been pretty divisive this time round, with ex-dictator Alberto Fujimori’s daughter Keiko Fujimori running against Nationalist and ex-military man Ollanta Humala. If Keiko wins in all likelihood the mine will go ahead, while Ollanta’s party look to be against the project.
I’ve been preparting the footage to take to Sheffield next and will update you as to how things are going over the summer. Most importantly I want to thank you for your generosity thus far, it was down to you that the chance to document this important story came to fruition. I’m confident that we are well on the way to making a powerful and interesting film and will be in touch as the process unfolds.
All the best and many thanks,
Michael Watts
Comments
Really like this project- incredibly important work! Come on Michael- nearly there!!!
Thanks Liz!! And thanks to everyone - your generosity and interest really is amazing.
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